If you haven’t already watched ABC’s You Can’t Ask That series, I highly recommend it. The show gives people a chance to ask the awkward and embarrassing questions they are too afraid to ask people from diverse and underrepresented groups.
This International Day of People with Disability, I encourage you to ask your burning questions of the Queensland Law Society’s Disability & Accessibility Network and we will endeavour to answer them. Don’t worry, you can remain anonymous!
I am legally blind so had a particular interest in the episode in season two featuring blind people. One of the interviewees was Professor Ron McCallum AO, the first totally blind professor and Dean of Law in Australia and New Zealand.
He gave me a good laugh when he revealed as a 6-year-old, his favourite ‘treat’ was to attend a cemetery to feel the writing on the tombstones. Quite morbid, but also a clever way to learn printed letters!
I was not always blind and have retained a lot of vision. I liken it to a sighted person jumping into a pool without goggles. I miss driving terribly, and the loss of that independence.
I confess that I also love touching everything, especially when shopping, because feeling fabrics and materials somehow helps me see. I have a great memory, my other senses are heightened, and I have a greater awareness of others’ emotions. Perhaps it sounds odd, but I am also very observant.
Another interviewee wisely said we tend to get the same amount of information as sighted people, just in a different way.
So, if you have a question for me, or any others in our network, and you are unsure whether to ask it or fear it may be insensitive or not politically correct, ask it anyway. This is a safe space. You can remain anonymous, and we will not take offence.
Perhaps you might want to know how we became disabled, how we work, what barriers we encounter or have overcome, how our disability makes us feel, what has been our most embarrassing moment arising from our disability, how do we manage relationships, if we could live a day without our impairment what would we do, what aggravates us, what can we do that people assume we can’t, should you help us etc.
We would rather answer your questions, educate people and remove any stigma attached to our disabilities.
After all, we want this to be an inclusive profession.
Ask us anything!
If you would like to ask members of the Queensland Law Society’s Disability & Accessibility Network any question you would like answered about disability, you can post it anonymously in the comments below and Proctor will post the answer.
3 Responses
If I am aware that a colleague has a disability, I never know whether I should check in with them to see if appropriate accommodations have been made to make allowance for their disability in tasks or room set ups or whether doing that will be seen as patronising and drawing attention to the disability and I should let them raise any issues.
Great question! We are all different, so it is difficult to reply on behalf of everyone with a disability. However, there is no harm in asking a respectful question, in a private setting, such as: Do you have any accessibility requirements that I may be able to assist with? I don’t believe that is patronizing and, in my view, encouraging accessibility accommodations would make me feel welcome and included.
I agree with Ashleigh. You can even ask a really neutral question like “Does this setup work for you?” – and in private is always best.